With all the UFO activity taking place in 2008 (as well as a few harrowing incidents involving Bigfoot and the like… need  I say more), I’ve not featured many articles that deal with conventional cryptozoology on The Gralien Report the majority of this year. If anything, one might scoff at the notion of cryptozoology being anything close to “conventional”, but what I refer to with this statement specifically has to do with creatures like Bigfoot, Yeti, Africa’s Mokele M’bembe and, other mystery animals around the world. Unconventional cryptozoological topics might refer to a couple of favorites of mine; namely “humanzees”, which, though more of a genetic alteration that could just as easily have to do with conspiracy theories, are nonetheless animal-like, and are mysterious without question. Another favorite is ”Bloop”, a strange noise recorded by NOAA using Cold-War era deep-sea hydrophones in the mid 1990′s. The acoustic hallmark of the sound indicated what could be an animal beneath the Pacific ocean “larger than a Blue Whale” (I plan to do an updated Gralien Report piece on this subject very soon; for more, check out my article in FATE Magazine from March ’07, called Apocalypse at Sea).

But in keeping with this theme of unconventional Cryptozoology, today I’ve got to tip my hat to my pal Nick Redfern and one of his latest projects, as described over at his blog There’s Something in the Woods… :

http://monsterusa.blogspot.com/2008/11/mysteries-of-loch.html

Within the pages of the new Darklore Vol. II  by Greg Taylor (brains behind The Daily Grail), Nick has included a very unconventional collection of odd stories and other tidbits having to do with the world’s most famous monster, Nessie of Loch Ness. However, in addition to the creature itself, Nick has also uncovered various other oddities having to do with Loch Ness and the surrounding area. Here’s Nick to tell you more:

“As for my own particular contribution, it focuses on that most mysterious of all locales: Loch Ness, Scotland. But the story has a twist to it. Rather than dwell solely upon the world’s most famous monster, Nessie, I have highlighted the illuminating fact that the beast is merely one of many mysteries that dominate the loch and its immediate surroundings.

“For example, in my chapter, titled What Lies Beneath…, you will find reams of data on (a)the Great-Beast of BoleskineHouse; Aleister Crowley, in other words, who had a home at Loch Ness and who got up to all sorts of antics while in-residence); (b) sightings of strange creatures in the loch that specifically fall outside of the standard long-necked and humped-variety; (c) shape-shifters and warlocks in the area; (d)UFOs seen soaring over, and Men in Black roaming around, Loch Ness; (e)eye-opening synchronicities; (f) exorcisms; (g) repeated examples of cameras mysteriously jamming when the monster surfaces from the dark waters; (h) encounters at the loch with big-cats; and (i) even reports of creatures that sound very much like the fairy folk of old English folklore and legend.”

For me, Nick is always the first guy that comes to mind when I’m prompted to name researchers who “think outside the box,” (with John Keel coming in at a close second). His stuff is exemplary, and if you haven’t read it yet, rush to his website(s) and find out more about his interesting line of work:

http://www.nickredfern.com/

http://monsterusa.blogspot.com

http://www.ufomystic.com

http://forteanreviews.blogspot.com/

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Cryptozoology A To Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature